Hot dog carts are staple examples of street food in a variety of cities. A challenge in this marketplace is finding ways to stand out from competing hot dog vendors and attract consumers to the classic, though common food. The theme of your hot dog cart's decorations can help you to make a name for yourself in the hot dog vendor business, make your brand memorable and attract consumers. Use the sides of your hot dog cart as a canvas for displaying the theme you select.

Vintage

Hot dogs have been a staple of American cuisine for generations. Call upon the nostalgia associated with eating a "good, old-fashioned, American hot dog," by implementing a vintage theme on the hot dog cart. Use classic hot dog imagery from the advertisements of the 1950s or 1960s on the cart. Create your own original imagery using vintage hot dog advertisements as inspiration. Use the aforementioned classic hot dog description as a motto on your hot dog cart.

Baseball

With the classic American food comes the classic American pastime; baseball. Baseball and hot dogs go hand in hand, and a theme that incorporates both is an appropriate and eye-catching choice. Use baseball imagery and pair it with hot dogs in your cart's design theme. For example, use an illustration of a child eating a hot dog in the stands of a baseball game on the side of your cart. Choose the baseball team of the city, state or region that your hot dog cart resides in for a hometown touch.

Condiments

Though the typical and classic condiments served with hot dogs are usually confined to ketchup, mustard and relish, you can use your hot dog cart theme to branch out on this and attract a variety of curious consumers. Decorate your hot dog cart with images of unconventional toppings consumers can try at your stand. This could include hot chili pepper sauce, avocado, cream cheese, sour cream, olives or even pasta sauce. By displaying imagery of the unusual assortment of available condiments you can develop a niche for your hot dog business.

Dogs

Take a humorous approach to your hot dog cart theme by playing off the "dog" aspect of the food's title. Instead of showing the meat version of the hot dog in a bun, display illustrations of a variety of actual dog breeds inside a hot dog bun. Typically, this is displayed with the long, dachshund dog breed. However, you can attract attention to your hot dog cart by using a variety of other breeds, such as poodles, terriers and collies in your illustrations. Imposing unexpected dog breeds in the theme can help to grab the eye of the passerby.

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About the Author

Michelle Barry graduated from Salve Regina University with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Since then, she has worked as a reporter for the Wilbraham-Hampden Times, an editor for Month9Books and Evolved Publishing, editor and has spent the past seven years in marketing and graphic design. She also has an extensive background in dance.